Preparing for the Media Controlled Assessment
The analytical assignment 800-1,500 words
Compare the representation of gender in two different music videos: ‘Candy Shop’ by 50 Cent and ‘Playing God’ by Paramore.
Compare the representation of gender in two different music videos: ‘Candy Shop’ by 50 Cent and ‘Playing God’ by Paramore.
Introduction
• Although they can vary….(one paragraph)
• State
what you are going to do in the essay – few short clear sentences.
Finally tell the reader what you are going to argue or conclude.
• What else could you include?
Main
Major part in your essay
• Typically 3 or 4 points of discussion (though can vary)
• For each point explain clearly your point, showing how this line of essay directly addresses the essay title
• You will tell me the representation through the use of -
Camera shot size/ angle, Mise en scene – Props/ lighting/ costume/ hair/ makeup/ Characters/ positioning, Editing, Sound – Any diegetic sounds? Genre conventions – Music Video, Hip Hop, Rock
Paragraphs - ‘Main point, plus supporting evidence and conclusion’ structure. State the main point that you are making at the start of the paragraph (representation of men as dominant/ powerful and this is stereotypical/ anti-stereotypical) ; then give your evidence (textual analysis/ where and when) and/ or reasoning in support of the point (Connotations)and refer back to the main point again as you conclude your paragraph (Why – eg. It appeals to target audience) .
Conclusion
• Brief and to the point, no more than a paragraph in length.
• Think about similarities/ differences between the two.
• Aim
to summarize your essay by gathering the most important of the points
that you have made. This summery can then be used to justify your main
argument conclusion.
Things to include
• Narrative (how the story is told)- use of flashbacks/ dream/ linear (in order)
• Target Audience (who it is aimed at)
• Background of artist
• Conventions of Genre (Hip Hop/ Indie rock) and conventions of music videos generlly
• Personal Response (your own thoughts)
• Representation analysis (in this case - Gender)
• Screen ‘grabs’.
• Why
– dominant ideologies/ target audience/ convention of genre/ music
video/ links to research/ intertextuality/ from different perspectives
Music Video conventions
Amplifying- emphasise the ideas rather than completely straying from the meaning
Illustrative – literally depict/ literal meaning
Contradicting - It’s something thats completley different and random compared to the song.
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Music Video convention
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1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. Stage performances in metal videos, dance routines for boy/girl bands)
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2. There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals (Either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)
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3. There is a relationship between the music and the visuals (Either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)
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4.
The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of
close-ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur
across their work (e.g. A visual style)
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5.
There are frequent references to the notion of looking (screens
within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic (sexual)
treatment of the female body
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6. There is often intertextual references (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc)
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7. Whether the video is primarily performance-based, narrative-based or concept-based and how element of each is used in it
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